Formerly, pain was not considered an important symptom of infantile paralysis; but in the recent epidemics in Europe and America it has been a prominent feature in many cases. The New York committee reported that it was marked in 50 per cent, of the cases they analyzed, and that it was sometimes excruciating, and often lasted for weeks.

As meningitis is emphasized in the report of this committee as a feature of the morbid invasion, it might be inferred that the sole cause of the pain manifested is irritation of the meninges. It is to be regretted that the committee is not explicit on this point; but it may be inferred from the emphatic recommendation of suspension in a warm bath in order to remove the pain, that meningitis cannot be the explanation of certain of the pains at least, for no mechanical measures are capable of allaying the irritations